Targeting Fibroblast Activation Protein for Molecular Imaging of Fibrotic Remodeling in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using F-labeled fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) PET/CT in assessing the fibrotic remodeling of the pulmonary artery (PA) and the right ventricle (RV) in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). In a rat model of monocrotaline-induced PAH, rats were euthanized at different time points for tissue analysis (fibroblast activation protein immunofluorescence and Masson's trichrome staining) after completing F-FAPI PET/CT and hemodynamic measurements. Thirty-eight PAH patients were enrolled to participate in F-FAPI PET/CT imaging, with right heart catheterization and echocardiography performed within 1 wk to assess pulmonary hemodynamics and cardiac function.

The diagnostic value of [F]FAPI-42 PET/CT for pulmonary artery masses: comparison with [F]FDG PET/CT.

Objectives: To investigate the potential utility of [F]fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for evaluating pulmonary artery (PA) masses, and compare it with [F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/CT.

Methods: Participants with clinically suspected PA malignancy were prospectively enrolled and underwent dual-tracer PET/CT ([F]FAPI-42 and [F]FDG) imaging. Visual analysis and semi-quantitative parameters were compared between the two types of radiotracers.

[F]FAPI adds value to [F]FDG PET/CT for diagnosing lymph node metastases in stage I-IIIA non-small cell lung cancer: a prospective study.

Background: This study investigates the value of fluorine 18 ([F])-labeled fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) for lymph node (LN) metastases in patients with stage I-IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: From November 2021 to October 2022, 53 patients with stage I-IIIA NSCLC who underwent radical resection were prospectively included. [F]-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) and [F]FAPI examinations were performed within one week.

An overview of recent advances and future prospects of three-dimensional biofilm electrode reactors (3D-BERs).

Three-dimensional biofilm electrode reactors (3D-BERs) have attracted extensive attention in recent years due to their wide application range, high efficiency and energy saving. On the basis of traditional bio-electrochemical reactor, 3D-BERs are filled with particle electrodes, also known as the third electrodes, which can not only be used as a carrier for microbial growth, but also improve the electron transfer rate of the whole system. This paper reviews the constitution, advantages and basic principles of 3D-BERs as well as current research status and progress of 3D-BERs in recent years.

Mesoporous Polydopamine Loaded Pirfenidone Target to Fibroblast Activation Protein for Pulmonary Fibrosis Therapy.

Recently, fibroblast activation protein (FAP), an overexpressed transmembrane protein of activated fibroblast in pulmonary fibrosis, has been considered as the new target for diagnosing and treating pulmonary fibrosis. In this work, mesoporous polydopamine (MPDA), which is facile prepared and easily modified, is developed as a carrier to load antifibrosis drug pirfenidone (PFD) and linking FAP inhibitor (FAPI) to realize lesion-targeted drug delivery for pulmonary fibrosis therapy. We have found that PFD@MPDA-FAPI is well biocompatible and with good properties of antifibrosis, when ICG labels MPDA-FAPI, the accumulation of the nanodrug at the fibrosis lung can be observed by NIR imaging, and the antifibrosis properties of PFD@MPDA-FAPI were also better than those of pure PFD and PFD@MPDA; therefore, the easily produced and biocompatible nanodrug PFD@MPDA-FAPI developed in this study is promising for further clinical translations in pulmonary fibrosis antifibrosis therapy.

Clinical Utility of F-18 Labeled Fibroblast Activation Protein Inhibitor (FAPI) for Primary Staging in Lung Adenocarcinoma: a Prospective Study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the primary staging of F-18 labeled fibroblast activation protein inhibitor ([F]F-FAPI) with that of F-18 labeled fluordesoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ([F]F-FDG PET/CT) in patients with lung adenocarcinoma (LAD).

Procedures: We prospectively analyzed the images of LAD patients who underwent [F]F-FAPI and [F]F-FDG PET/CT between May 2020 and August 2021. [F]F-FAPI and [F]F-FDG uptakes were compared using the paired samples t test, and lesion numbers were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

Noninvasively visualize the expression of LAPTM4B protein using a novel F-labeled peptide PET probe in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective: Lysosomal protein transmembrane 4 beta (LAPTM4B) is selectively expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and thus a potential biomarker for diagnosing HCC. In this study, we designed a novel F-labeled PET probe to non-invasively visualize LAPTM4B expression in mouse model of HCC tumor.

Methods: A PET targeting tracer named [F]FP-LAP2H was radio-synthesized using a LAPTM4B targeting peptide, LAP2H, coupled with 4-nitrophenyl-2-[F]fluoropropionate ([F]NFP).

Radiomics analysis of [F]FDG PET/CT for microvascular invasion and prognosis prediction in very-early- and early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma.

Unlabelled: As a reliable preoperative predictor for microvascular invasion (MVI) and disease-free survival (DFS) is lacking, we developed a radiomics nomogram of [F]FDG PET/CT to predict MVI status and DFS in patients with very-early- and early-stage (BCLC 0, BCLC A) hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: Patients (N = 80) with BCLC0-A HCC who underwent [F]FDG PET/CT before surgery were enrolled in this retrospective study and were randomized to a training cohort and a validation cohort. Texture features from patients obtained using Lifex software in the training cohort were subjected to LASSO regression to select the most useful predictive features of MVI and DFS.

Imaging algorithm and multimodality evaluation of spinal osteoblastoma.

Background: To analyze the features of CT, MRI and PET/CT and their diagnostic value for spinal osteoblastomas (OBs).

Methods: The radiological and clinical data of 21 patients with histopathologically-confirmed spinal OBs were analyzed retrospectively.

Results: Sixteen of the 21 cases were benign and 5 were aggressive OBs.

Synthesis and Preclinical Evaluation of the Fibrin-Binding Cyclic Peptide F-iCREKA: Comparison with Its Contrasted Linear Peptide.

Purpose: Cys-Arg-Glu-Lys-Ala (CREKA) is a pentapeptide which can target fibrin-fibronectin complexes. Our previous study has built a probe called iCREKA which was based on CREKA and has proved the feasibility and specificity of iCREKA by the fluorescence experiment. The purpose of this study is to achieve the F-labeled iCREKA and make preclinical evaluation of the F-iCREKA with comparison of its contrasted linear peptide (LP).

Radiofluorinated GPC3-Binding Peptides for PET Imaging of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Purpose: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains one of the most challenging diseases worldwide. Glypican-3 (GPC-3) is a cell surface proteoglycan that is overexpressed on the membrane of HCC cells. The purpose of this study was to develop a target-specific radiofluorinated peptide for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of GPC3 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Synthesis and Evaluation of F-Labeled Peptide for Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Receptor Imaging.

The gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor is overexpressed in the majority of tumors of the human reproductive system. The purpose of this study was to develop an F-labeled peptide for tumor GnRH receptor imaging. In this study, the GnRH (pGlu-His-Trp-Ser-Tyr-Gly-Leu-Arg-Pro-Gly-NH) peptide analogues FP-d-Lys-GnRH (FP = 2-fluoropropanoyl) and NOTA-P-d-Lys-GnRH ( = ethylene glycol) were designed and synthesized.

[Combined use of thin-section CT and F-FDG PET/CT for characterization of solitary pulmonary nodules].

Objective: To investigate whether fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) combined with thin-section CT improves the diagnostic performance for solitary pulmonary nodules (SPNs).

Methods: A total of 267 patients underwent examinations with 18F-FDG PET/CT and thin-section CT for evaluating the SPNs with undetermined nature, which was further confirmed by pathological examination or clinical follow-up. The performance of two diagnostic criteria based on findings in PET/CT alone (Criterion 1) and in PET/CT combined with thin-section CT (Criterion 2) were compared.